Radiographic Projection Terminology Quiz and Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for the side of a body part closest to the midline?

Posterior aspect

Medial aspect (correct)

Lateral aspect

Anterior aspect

In which position is the patient lying down?

Supine

Erect

Semi-recumbent

Decubitus (correct)

What is the term for the view of the patient from the front?

Anterior aspect (correct)

Dorsal aspect

Posterior aspect

Lateral aspect

In which position is the patient sitting or standing?

Erect Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for lying face-down?

Prone Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for lying on the side?

Lateral decubitus Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between radiographic image formation and image formation in the eye or camera?

The projection of the object versus a view of the object Signup and view all the answers

What determines the density of a radiographic image?

The amount of radiation incident upon the image detector Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the central ray in lateral oblique projections?

At an angle to the coronal plane Signup and view all the answers

What happens to X-rays as they pass through the body?

Some are absorbed and others pass through to the image detector Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of angling the central ray in oblique projections?

To obtain a specific view of the object Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between right and left anterior or posterior oblique projections?

The direction of the central ray Signup and view all the answers

What is the position of the posterior aspect of the trunk in a semi-recumbent position?

Against the cassette Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the central ray in an antero-posterior (AP) projection?

From anterior to posterior aspect of the body Signup and view all the answers

What determines the designation of a lateral projection as right or left?

The side of the body where the central ray enters Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the central ray in an anterior oblique projection?

From posterior to anterior aspect of the body at an angle to the median sagittal plane Signup and view all the answers

What is described by the side of the torso closest to the cassette in an anterior oblique projection?

The designation of the projection as right or left Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the central ray in a posterior oblique projection?

From anterior to posterior aspect of the body at an angle to the median sagittal plane Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of an imaging system in detecting pathology?

To detect the differences in density between the pathology and surrounding tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is contrast in the context of imaging?

The difference in density between structures of interest Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a high-contrast image?

A larger difference in density between structures of interest Signup and view all the answers

How should a radiograph of the torso be hung?

As if the patient is standing in an upright position Signup and view all the answers

How should a radiograph of the elbow be hung?

As if the patient is hanging from the shoulder Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to hang a radiograph correctly?

To facilitate proper evaluation of the radiograph Signup and view all the answers

When hanging a decubitus radiograph, which side of the patient should be facing upwards?

The side that was positioned upwards when the radiograph was taken Signup and view all the answers

How should radiographs taken in AP or PA positions be placed on the view box?

As if the viewer and the patient are facing each other Signup and view all the answers

When hanging a lateral radiograph of the torso, which side of the patient should be placed against the view box?

The side that was in contact with the film when the radiograph was taken Signup and view all the answers

How should extremity radiographs be hung?

As if the viewer's eyes are the x-ray beam going through the radiographic image Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to hang radiographs correctly?

To ensure the radiograph is viewed with the correct orientation Signup and view all the answers

What determines which side of the radiograph is placed against the view box?

The position of the patient when the radiograph was taken Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Projection Terminology

The human body is a complicated structure, and errors in radiographic positioning or diagnosis can easily occur unless practitioners have a common set of rules that are used to describe the body and its movements.
Patient aspect terminology:
- Anterior aspect: the front of the patient
- Posterior (dorsal) aspect: the back of the patient
- Lateral aspect: the side of the patient
- Medial aspect: the side of a body part closest to the midline

Positioning Terminology

Erect: the patient is sitting or standing, with the posterior aspect against the cassette, or the anterior aspect against the cassette, or the right or left side against the cassette.
Decubitus: the patient is lying down, with the possibility of lying in supine, prone, or lateral decubitus positions.
Semi-recumbent: the patient is reclining, part way between supine and sitting erect, with the posterior aspect of the trunk against the cassette.

Projection Types

Antero-posterior (AP): the central ray is incident on the anterior aspect, passes along or parallel to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the posterior aspect of the body.
Postero-anterior (PA): the central ray is incident on the posterior aspect, passes along or parallel to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the anterior aspect of the body.
Lateral projection: the central ray passes from one side of the body to the other along a coronal and transverse plane.
Anterior oblique: the central ray enters the posterior aspect, passes along a transverse plane at some angle to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the anterior aspect.
Posterior oblique: the central ray enters the anterior aspect, passes along a transverse plane at some angle to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the posterior aspect.
Lateral oblique: the central ray enters one lateral aspect, passes along a transverse plane at an angle to the coronal plane, and emerges from the opposite lateral aspect.

Image Formation

X-rays are produced from a small area within the X-ray tube and diverge outwards from this area.
As X-rays pass through the body, some are absorbed by organs and structures, while others pass through to the image-forming equipment.
Image formation is a projection of the object, differing from the way images are formed on the retina or photographic film.

Density and Contrast

Density refers to the degree of 'blackening' within the image, with greater radiation incident upon the image detector resulting in greater density.
Contrast is the difference in density between structures of interest within the image, with low-contrast images showing little difference and high-contrast images showing a larger difference.

Hanging Radiographs

Radiographs should be correctly hung on a view box prior to evaluation, with different procedures for different body parts and projections.
Torso, vertebral, cranial, and hip radiographs should be hung as if the patient is standing in an upright position.
Radiographs of other body parts, such as fingers, wrist, and forearm, should be hung accordingly, with the patient's position during the radiograph taken into account.

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Description

Learn about radiographic positioning, terminology, and patient aspects in radiography. Understand the importance of standardization in radiographic diagnosis.

Radiography: Projection Terminology